Should Survivors of Fallen Servicemembers Get Death Benefits Immediately During a Gov’t Shutdown? (S. 2430)

What is S. 2430?

(Updated December 10, 2018)

This bill — known as the Families of Fallen Servicemembers First Act — would provide a permanent appropriation for the payment of death gratuities and related benefits to survivors of deceased servicemembers during a period where appropriations have lapsed and the government is shut down. Funds would be provided at the rate and under the conditions described in the most recently enacted defense appropriations bill.

Benefits covered by this bill include:

• Death gratuities for survivors of deceased military servicemembers;

• Funeral and burial expenses;

• Authorized funeral travel, including to dignified transfer ceremonies;

• A temporary continuation of a basic allowance for housing for dependents.

Under current law, military death benefits aren’t paid immediately if a servicemember dies during a government shutdown, and survivors have to wait for funding to be restored to receive the benefit.

Argument in favor

This commonsense, bipartisan bill would ensure that the survivors of fallen servicemembers can immediately access the death benefits they’re entitled to even if the government is shut down because Congress didn’t have its act together.

Argument opposed

Congress should focus on ensuring that survivors of fallen servicemembers get timely access to death benefits by not allowing government shutdowns to occur in the first place even if they may occasionally fall short of that goal and delay benefits.

Impact

Survivors of fallen servicemembers; the DOD; and Congress.

Cost of S. 2430

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced this bill to ensure that the survivors of fallen servicemembers can immediately access death benefits during a government shutdown:

“We have a duty as Americans to support those who serve and their families. In the words of President Lincoln, we must meet our sacred commitment to those ‘who have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan.’ I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this bill into law and ensure that these benefits are never subject to Congressional inaction.”

Original cosponsor Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) added:

“When our servicemembers make the ultimate sacrifice protecting our freedoms, we must make certain no grieving family is subjected to delayed benefits due to Congressional stalemate. No Congressional disagreements should prevent our heroes’ families from quickly receiving the benefits they are owed. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this bill and see it signed into law.”

This legislation has the support of 17 bipartisan cosponsors, including 10 Democrats and 7 Republicans.

Media:

• Sponsoring Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) Press Release
  
• Milford Beacon
  
• Ripon Advance